StarCraft II is shown here running on a '08 MacBook. The beta for Mac just aired for lucky beta testers. (Source: Giant Bomb)

Apple owners finally get a bit more gaming love

Apple's
Macs have traditionally packed powerful Intel CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs.
One would think that they would prove an ideal home for PC games; but
in reality they have only received a limited selection of
high-profile ports. That's mainly because most PC games rely on
Direct X, a proprietary Microsoft API. Macs use OpenGL instead,
necessitating a port. This is just one of multiple API-level
differences between Windows gaming and Mac gaming.

Valve
just announced this week that it would be releasing the betas to the
public on May
12.

Blizzard – makers of StarCraft, Diablo,
and Warcraft –
has a long relationship with Apple, but hasn't been tossing as many
titles their way of late. However, Blizzard is stepping up its
Mac efforts as well. Blizzard just released a beta version of
the upcoming StarCraft
II for
Mac.

Mac players can snag the test release for free
at Battle.net, but they must
already be in the beta test program to get it.

In
non-Mac StarCraft
II news,
the upcoming title has received a new
map editor patch, that allows users greater flexibility in
crafting custom levels and mods. A couple of users are already
showing off their handiwork, crafting a Diablo clone and
a Kart
racing game with it.

"Google fired a shot heard 'round the world, and now a second American company has answered the call to defend the rights of the Chinese people." -- Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.)